Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a large red spot (e.g. indicating acne) or carbuncle.

1673		M. Stevenson Norfolk Drollery 96: His face else, which does so with Rubies shine, / A Jeweller’s shop is, and his Nose the sign].
1746		W. Dunkin Parson’s Revels (2010) 102: His Visage / [...] / red with Rubies, rough with rich Carbuncles.
1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue (2nd, 3rd edn) n.p.: Malmsey Nose. A red pimpled snout, rich in carbuncles and rubies.
1831		Bristol Mercury 19 July 2/6: She shed a profusion of tears [...] the big drops chasing each other through the gin blossoms of her face like pearls playing among rubies.

2. (also ruby fluid) blood; also as adj.

1850		Bell’s Life in Sydney 20 Apr. 3/4: The oozing of the ruby fluid proved that the delivery was effective.
1853		N.Y. Clipper n.p.: Jones [...] dashed out, but got it heavily on the nose [...] a fesh supply of ruby being the result .
1855		(con. 1831) Fights for the Championship 118: The ruby was flowing from his nose and mouth.
1857		Bell’s Life in Victoria (Melbourne) 25 July 3/3: [He] caught Crockett very heavily on the proboscis, drawing the ruby in profusion.
1867		Bell’s Life in Sydney 2 Mar. 5/2: Probert got well home on the conk, drawing Sam’s ruby.
1876		C. Hindley Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack 258: It was a ‘noser,’ and no mistake about it, and the ‘ruby’ spurted in all directions.
1883		‘Three Chums’ in Boudoir V The red flesh, weals, and dripping drops of the ruby, as it is distilled from the abraded skin: .
1888		Sporting Life 11 Dec. n.p.: Saunders stopped a flush right-hander with his organ of smell, the ruby duly making its appearance [F&H].
1895		J. Caminada Twenty-Five Years of Detective Life I 49: Bang! went a staff on ‘Pudding’s’ head, causing a ruby stream to freely flow.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Mar. 24/2: [N]o harm resulted; not the faintest indication of the ruby showed, nor was the slightest trace of a ‘mouse’ visible.
1909		Truth (Wellington) 28 Aug. 3/3: [headline] A Ding-Dong Amateur Go [...] Both had their ruby tapped.